Environmental Professionals

1. State of salmon, threats, & issues in the Napa River (4.5 min)

2. Solutions supporting Napa River salmon (3 min)

3. Being a Career Wildlife Biologist (3.5 min)

Jonathan has over fifteen years of professional experience conducting field research focusing on aquatic ecology and watershed processes. He has been with the RCD since 2001 and much of his recent work has involved assessing streams within Napa County, where he has monitored native fish populations, conducted stream habitat assessments, initiated a wetland bird monitoring program, and assessed amphibian habitat. Jonathan frequently presents the findings of the RCD’s ongoing monitoring work to local groups as well as larger scientific conferences – recent papers are available online at www.napawatersheds.org. In addition to field biology, Jonathan has extensive experience with water quality monitoring and aquatic bioassessment via the collection and analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates. He also currently leads the District’s GIS mapping program to analyze and present environmental data on maps and in graphical format. Jonathan holds a B.S. and M.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Aquatic Ecology from California State University, East Bay.

Email Jonathan with your questions

Patrick Samuel - Bay Area Program Manager, CalTrout

1. Getting 'hooked' on fish biology (3.5 min)

2. Threats to salmonids in freshwater habitats (2 min)

3. Solutions specific to Napa County (3.5min)

Patrick has been with CalTrout since 2014 and was one of the lead authors of the 2017 State of the Salmonids II: Fish in Hot Water report. Prior to joining CalTrout, Patrick worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum as well as the NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento.

1. Threats to salmon in the San Francisco Bay Estuary (3 min)

2. What can we do? (4 min)

3. A career in environmental education (2 min)

Peter Winch is the Visitor Center Naturalist and Education Specialist at The Gulf of The Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, and assists with the running of the visitor center and their educational programs. He has a BS in Environmental Science from Plymouth University, England, and has a background as a scientist and as an educator. He has studied seabirds in Alaska, Hawaii, Baja Mexico and Oregon for US Fish and Wildlife and The Island Ecology Group, and worked as a naturalist for Oceanic Society Expeditions on Whale Watching Trips off California for 9 years. Peter surfs and dives, and explores the ocean whenever possible.

After graduating he spent three years working as an activist for The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and is an advocate for marine conservation.

In 2019 Peter enrolled in California Academy of Science Master Birding Course and graduated in January 2020.

Peter is a filmmaker and an artist. He published his first book “The Giant Ocean Coloring Book” in September 2016.

Email Peter Winch if you have questions about ocean ecosystems, Marine Sanctuaries, and fisheries.